I saw this post<http://wikinewsreports.blogspot.com/2007/10/so-many-conferences-so-little-m…>on
the wikinews reports blog aggregated on
en.planet <http://en.planet.wikimedia.org> and then on google when i
searched. Could we say from now on that with the news wikinewsie blog that
we keep opinions on there and post ony news stories and no opinion on the
blogspot one. IMO if were going to be taken seriously as a news provider by
blog then we need to cut out the opinions which can now be posted
elsewhere. also i think that opinions on the wikinews reports blog kinda
goes against the community spirt thing because it's one persons opinion and
not everyones.
well thoughts??
mark
foundation-l-request(a)lists.wikimedia.org wrote:
> David, thanks for opening this discussion; it's an important and necessary one.
>
> I was not on the Wikimania jury, but I endorse its decision.
>
> To me, WMF is first and foremost about spreading knowledge, across
> boundaries of language & culture. This means we should not isolate
> countries that violate human rights through reactionary policies. We
> need to engage them on a higher level, and confront them with the open
> & diverse culture of sharing that we are building.
>
They are not willing to build a diverse culture which included
homosexuals. So far I see nothing open and diverse about their
government or the way they treat homosexuals and women. If they wanted
us there, then they would welcome us and they do not welcome
homosexuals. Its not about policy. Its about whether or not a group is
being singled out.
> I understand that this means that many LGBT people may not wish to
> attend Wikimania 2008 for reasons of personal safety or principles. I
> hope some of them will change their mind, as we need courageous voices
> to influence those who can be influenced.
>
Wikimania is not a conference to use for political objectives. We are
not politicians or lawmakers. If you want to influence people who wish
NOT to be influenced, do it on your own time. Its not "personal safety"
of just homosexuals, but EVERYONE. This is a conference, not an election.
> I have always been supportive of Wikimedia taking an official stance
> against censorship in particular. Knowledge cannot flow across
> boundaries where there are gatekeepers who wish to control it. It is
> my belief that education, including education about different
> lifestyles, is absolutely critical for social progress anywhere,
> including Egypt. This is what Wikimedia, as an international charity,
> is all about.
>
Charity is for those who want it and who welcome it. We are not one to
make their censorship decisions. Again, take the political motive
somewhere else. We can educate and teach others about their culture
without putting individuals in harms way. And we don't donate
anything...they donate to us.
> If we truly are the "Red Cross of Knowledge", as Jimmy once called it,
> then we need to be everywhere, and primarily challenge policies when
> they stop us from doing what we do: giving people free access to
> education. This, not simply globe-hopping, is my motivation to support
> this location, the first Wikimania in Africa.
>
Again. We cannot force our knowledge on a culture that is protective of
their own. They don't have free speech so your continuing claims of
policies has nothing to do with us. They change their policies and
beliefs and culture. Not us. If the "gatekeepers" want to control
it,then that's their right, its their country and we have no right to
force anything upon them. And I as well as from what I read, other
homosexuals are not willing to risk their life to do that. If you want
to talk about non-censorship and what not, then talk about how this
decision effects a crowd of Wikimedia's most diverse.
Jason Safoutin
So I see...we (homosexuals etc) have to hide who we are and what we are
proud of...so homosexuals don't get hurt or arrested. Wonderful...I will
make sure to bring a mask or 2 to conceal anything that might suggest I
am gay. Because thats what it feels like I ans any other homosexual has
to do to make this trip work. Thats wrong, unfair and it discrimination.
I am also not happy with the fact that this is sounding more and more
like a political conference than anything and thats not right. If you
want to make Wikimania political, then don't get involved. And then to
have Jimbo make a speech title that can get a lot into a lot of
trouble....take the political mess somewhere else. This is a media
conference, not an election.
Anyone can go and no one should have to be afraid of their own safety.
Wikimania should be something for everyone, not the elite. Stop this
discrimination.
Jason Safoutin
Although replacing fair use images is kind of problematic depending on
what prespective you take on the image and archive policies, this tool
may still be useful
-bawolff
-------FORWARDED FROM COMMONS-L-------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2007 17:55:05 +0100
From: "Magnus Manske" <magnusmanske(a)googlemail.com>
Subject: [Commons-l] Too announcement : WatchFlickr
To: "Wikimedia Commons Discussion List"
<commons-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Cc: English Wikipedia <wikien-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Message-ID:
<fab0ecb70709300955t2c3376e9h423a4ad19b67b5f8(a)mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
In response about the discussion on wikien-l about fair use and
placeholder images for biographies (and other things?) I have written
a new tool, WatchFlickr.
Given a category (at selectable depth), it retrieves all articles in
that category, checks if it lacks an image, and if so, searches Flickr
for relevant CC-BY and CC-BY-SA images. It shows found flickr
thumbnails, links to the wikipedia and flickr page, and to
Flominator's Flinfo tool.
Not that due toolserver problems, several wikipedias, notably en, are
not available to search right now. German wikipedia works, though, in
case you want to test.
URL:
http://tools.wikimedia.de/~magnus/watchflickr.php
I have already found, uploaded, and used about a dozen "celebrity"
images, both adding a new image and (on en.wp) replacing fair use and
placeholder images.
Cheers,
Magnus
We at Wikinews would like board members to quickly give their response
to a new YouTube project for non-profits.
Broadcast Your Cause <http://youtube.com/nonprofits>
Our Wikinews Video project
<http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Video_2.0> would benefit highly
from something like this. And the good part is it will cost the
foundation or Wikinews nothing, and the first 300 agencies to sign up
get a free video camera.
What else is included?
Your Nonprofit channel (aka Wikinews) includes:
* Premium branding capabilities and increased uploading capacity
* Rotation of your videos in the "Promoted Videos" areas throughout
the site
* The option to drive fundraising through a Google Checkout "Donate"
button
I guess I am asking, do we need permission to sign up?
Jason Safoutin